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100-pound stolen pumpkin returned with apology note to York boy

Two more pumpkins come his way, as businesses stepped in to help.

By Rebecca LeFever

rlefever@ydr.com @ralefever on Twitter

Updated:
10/22/2013 08:05:11 AM EDT

Nine-year-old Jaiden Newcomer poses Monday with his 100-pound pumpkin in the backyard of his Spring Garden Township home. The pumpkin, which he had won at a fall festival, was stolen. It was recently returned with a note, seen here taped to the giant pumpkin. Jason Plotkin - Daily Record/Sunday News (JASON PLOTKIN -- DAILY RECORD/SUNDAY NEWS)

Nearly a week after a 100-pound pumpkin was taken from the front porch of the Newcomer family in York, it has been returned, along with an apology note.

In addition, area businesses have stepped forward to help 9-year-old Jaiden Newcomer, the pumpkin's owner

The original pumpkin had been taken from the family's front porch in the 1200 block of Edison Street last week and was returned over the weekend.

"I didn't think my actions through," the apology note stated.

It all started the evening of Oct. 14, when Jaiden's dad, Corey Newcomer, went to work. The pumpkin was gone by the time he got home the next morning, and Jaiden was upset.

Nine-year-old Jaiden Newcomer pulls his 100-pound pumpkin into the backyard of his Spring Garden Township home. The pumpkin was a replacement for his original pumpkin, which he had won at a fall festival, that was stolen. A couple of businesses offered a replacement after hearing about the theft. The stolen pumpkin was recently returned with an apology note. Jason Plotkin - Daily Record/S.nday News (JASON PLOTKIN -- DAILY RECORD/SUNDAY NEWS)

News quickly spread about the theft.

After hearing about it, Ashcombe Farm and Greenhouses in Mechanicsburg donated a 60-pound pumpkin to Jaiden, who went to pick it up Friday afternoon with his grandparents, Corey Newcomer said.

Saturday afternoon, Dave VanZant, owner of Cape Horn Beverage in Red Lion, also reached out to the family to offer a replacement.

Monday afternoon, VanZant was set to deliver another pumpkin, guessed to be about the same weight as the one Jaiden first won at a fall festival hosted by the business.

"I'm not certain of its weight, but I'm 69 years old, and I need help carrying it," VanZant said.

"Jaiden has been pretty nervous talking to people about it, but he's all beside himself with excitement," Corey Newcomer said of the attention since the theft. "It has been a pretty nice response from everyone."

Now that he has so much pumpkin, Jaiden wants to pay it forward and find a place that can make pies from all the pumpkins so he can donate them to a food bank, according to Jaiden's mother, Amy Newcomer.

In the meantime, the father said Jaiden will likely keep his new pumpkins somewhere else so it isn't as easy for someone to take them.

"We're just happy everyone has been so kind," he added. "It's been heartwarming."

Note of apology

Jaiden's original pumpkin was returned with a note of apology:

"I'm really sorry about taking your pumpkin, it was wrong of me, you earned the pumpkin, I didn't think my actions through nor realize who they were affecting Sincerest Apologies"